We have a busy spring lined up and our team will be attending several great events in the US and EU! Connect with us if you’ll be at any of these events! We would love to meet others interested in innovation in the food, agriculture and ocean sectors to discuss developments in sustainability and business strategies in these areas.
We are pleased to be a partner of several up-coming innovation summits: the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit and Future Food-Tech in San Fransisco and the Blue Food Innovation Summit London! Feel free to use our code MEROS10 for an extra 10% off these three events! And reach out for more info about any of these events.
Meros co-founder Lucia Vancura kicked off January at the Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA) Cellular Agriculture Innovation Day in Boston, eager to understand how investors were thinking about the cellular agriculture sector for 2025 and if it was really as pessimistic as it seemed. In this installment, we take a look at the global funding dynamics for cellular agriculture.
Private investments in cultivated meat startups are down dramatically from a peak of $1 billion in 2021 to just $177 million in 2023 and even further down in 2024. Early data does not show a rebound in 2025.
From the various panels and talks with participants, it was clear that the science behind cellular agriculture has made huge advances over the past couple of years. The enthusiasm for the basic research and all its potential uses was everywhere at the conference but the funding?
Four Takeaways:
1. The Private Funding Drought is Real: Investors are pulling back as valuations plummet, making it harder for early-stage companies to secure capital. Steve Simitzis from Solvable Syndicate was a panelist and remarked that “The science is much further along, but the ecosystem and financial support are lagging.”
2. Public Funding, such as Research Universities is Now Key: To keep the momentum in the basic science research, more public funding will probably be necessary. Tufts University itself is an example of university and public money focusing on the science and early stage commercialization of cellular agriculture with 90 researchers now at their center. The University of North Carolina and the National University of Singapore were also there to give perspectives on their research hubs.
3. Better Strategic Partnerships: Private investors noted that it’s time for the cultivated meat sector to pivot from aiming at flashy consumer-facing products to partnerships with traditional meat companies. Startups will need to integrate cultivated meat into existing supply chain, such as blending small amounts into fast food or pet food products, to gain traction. Companies need to focus on getting offtake agreements. When we see the first one of these agreements for cultivated meat, we will know the sector has reached the next level.
4. Governments are Seeing the Opportunities to be Industry Leaders: Despite the challenges, there are governments worldwide leaning into cellular agriculture. India, Israel, and Brazil are integrating alternative proteins into their national plans and South Korea has created a special economic zone for the development of cultivated meat.
Investors still seemed enthusiastic about the long-term potential, but they’re still looking for that clear path forward that includes public support, strategic partnerships, and de-risked investments.
Meros is geared up and ready for our new summer research assistant Mako Irisumi. Welcome!
Mako is an undergraduate student at Wellesley College in the US, with a major in Computer Science and also a student researcher this past year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) D-Lab. She previously interned with the Japanese development consulting company Padeco on an infrastructure project in Romania. Mako is a Tokyo native but has been studying in the US since high school.
Meros is extremely busy right now and Mako has been able to jump right into projects and support our current work. She has been researching the sustainability goals of global start-ups related to regenerative agriculture and as well as supporting the kick-off of a new project with Hokkaido University and the Japan International Cooperation Agency that will focus on cassava and carbon markets in Vietnam.
Mako was an obvious fit for Meros. “I am strongly inspired by Meros’s global contributions to the food and agriculture sector, especially in agri-tech, and its diverse team. As a student researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) D-Lab, I conducted research on passive solar desalination to address water sanitation challenges in Madagascar last year. Our fieldwork in Madagascar for three weeks in January allowed me to witness firsthand realities of global poverty, especially food insecurity issues, fueling my desire to solve food insecurity worldwide. I also enjoyed collaborating with diverse teammates and engaging in global collaboration. Additionally, as a computer science major, I was very curious about how to solve this food insecurity issue from an agri-tech perspective. Therefore, Meros’s international impact in the agri-tech sector and its diverse team and clients align perfectly with my passion.”
Mako will be working on an independent research project that combines her interest in technology and economic development, by looking at Japan’s Rural 5G initiative that is exploring ways to bring 5G telecommunications to rural and agricultural communities in Japan. This will allow her dig into the various financing models for rural infrastructure, the benefits 5G can bring to farmers, the level of demand among farmers and the potential technologies that it may allow.
“This fall, I hope to improve my research skills. In addition to desktop research, I am excited to develop my abilities in conducting interviews and field research. Learning from experienced team members at Meros will be an invaluable opportunity for my professional growth.”
Like the rest of the Meros team Mako loves discovering new foods. “I love exploring new restaurants and have around 20 saved on my Google Maps just in the Meros neighborhood alone. I particularly love fish, especially mackerel (saba), as it is delicious whether grilled, stewed, or served as sushi.”
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